With their luxurious cars, quirky home decor, and eccentric fashion, it’s no secret that many celebrities have larger-than-life personalities and aren’t afraid to show it. So why should we expect that to end once they’ve passed away? Yet some of these requests are so unusual and downright bizarre, we can’t help but be surprised – and many of their loved ones couldn’t either. So buckle up for this wild ride through Hollywood’s strangest wills.
Barron Hilton: Snubbed Paris Hilton of Her Inheritance
When you think of celebrities named Hilton, the first one to come to mind is probably Paris Hilton. However, she might’ve never been an icon had her grandfather not built the Hilton hotel empire. He apparently thought so, too. In his will, the hotel magnate left a pretty obvious statement about how he saw his granddaughter’s partying lifestyle. He ended up completely excluding her from his will after his death.
The fortune was worth around $4.5 billion, and all of Paris’s share ended up going to charity. But clearly, Paris did well for herself without her grandfather’s inheritance.
Freddie Mercury: Left Everything to His Ex-Wife
A music legend and one of the most eccentric rock stars in history (which is saying quite a lot), Freddie Mercury shocked the world one last time when he passed away in 1991. Mercury had been the lead singer of Queen and given the world numerous hits by the time he passed away, but his death wouldn’t be the last surprise he had for fans. Mercury asked in his will that his fortune be given to Mary Austin, who was an ex-girlfriend and a friend.
Now, normally this wouldn’t be too strange for a celebrity to do. However, Mercury had been in a relationship with his boyfriend Jim Hulton for a long time. He also asked that he be buried in a secret location. His wish was granted, and the public had no idea where he ended up.
Karl Lagerfeld: Made His Pampered Cat A Millionaire
While not a household name like some other people on this list, Karl Lagerfeld’s business certainly was. He was the man behind Chanel, and he passed away in 2019. The designer, like many other designers out there, it seems, was a bit odd. In his will, he stated that he wanted his entire fortune to go to his pet cat, who was named Choupette. What a fitting name for a cat that was set to inherit a fortune, right?
It was estimated that the money the cat was set to get would amount to around $200 million. However, this wasn’t the only time the designer had expressed his love for his furry feline. He also stated at one point that if he could marry his cat, then he would.
Gordon Ramsay: No Five-Star Inheritances For His Kids
Gordon Ramsay is known for his blunt and disciplined persona in the kitchen. But, apparently, he is like this in real life as well. The celebrity chef has said that he does not plan on giving any money to his children after he passes away. After his many hit T.V. shows and now social media channels, appearances, and whatever else the chef has going on, it is estimated that he is worth around $160 million.
He has specifically stated that his decision not to leave his children with anything is because he does not want them to grow up spoiled.
Robert Kardashian Sr.: Left Kris an Inheritance Even Though She Cheated on Him and They Were Divorced
Some people don’t know that the Kardashian family actually got its start long before reality T.V. and social media. Robert Kardashian Sr. rose to fame after defending O.J. Simpson. By that time, not-yet-famous momager Kris Jenner and the renowned attorney had called it quits. Why? Because she cheated on him with a young athlete. After finding out, Robert filed for divorce, and Kris went on to marry her next partner soon after. Which makes the details of Robert’s will all the more surprising.
Not only did Robert leave his children with plenty of money, but he also reportedly left his ex-wife Kris Jenner with an inheritance. It was a nice surprise considering he had previously cut off all of her financial access to his accounts when they divorced. And since he was a lawyer, we doubt he just forgot to update his will; this was certainly intentional.
Aaron Spelling: Left His Daughter A Literal Pittance
Aaron Spelling was a producer best known for working on Beverly Hills 90210. However, Spelling also worked on many more shows and movies, including the likes of Charlie’s Angels, and he was known as one of the most prolific men in Hollywood. When he passed away in 2006, it was estimated that he had amassed a large fortune worth around $600 million. Not bad for a son of impoverished immigrants.
However, for some reason, he wrote in his will that the majority of the money should go to his wife. His two children received only around $800,000 each – despite his daughter and famous actress Tori Spelling’s dire financial troubles.
Oprah Winfrey: A Multi-Million Dollar Trust For Her Dogs
There aren’t many people out there today as iconic as Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey has gone from T.V. stardom to owning and operating a successful media corporation worth a fortune. She is also known for her generous philanthropy. However, Winfrey’s life has been punctuated by tragedy as well. She lost a daughter and has spoken publicly about being abused by a number of different family members when she was a young child.
Despite this, Winfrey still continues to want to make the world a better place and has said that she plans on giving most of her money to various charities. Another sizable portion will go to her dogs. This will probably be a pretty large sum, considering she is worth around $2.6 billion.
Bob Marley: Didn’t Leave a Will, Sending His Family Into Decades-Long Feuds
The iconic musician and activist Bob Marley makes it onto this list not for his strange requests but for his lack of a will entirely! He didn’t prescribe to the belief that a will should be drawn up. His decision not to do so was a part of the Rastafari and Jamaican movement’s beliefs. However, this left his immediate family somewhat irked after his death. The family began fighting over his estate, and court battles are still going on years after the legendary musician’s death. There was also an incident of alleged forgery.
Reportedly, after Marley’s death in 1981, his wife attempted to forge papers. The papers would have transferred the ownership of his companies to her name and were predated before his death.
Hugh Hefner: Eternity Spent Next To Marilyn Monroe
Today, opinions differ on the legacy left behind by media mogul Hugh Hefner. However, one thing that is certain is that the eccentric celebrity built his media empire around a persona of partying, sex, and drugs. Which makes the notes he left in his will all the more surprising. Hefner apparently stipulated that if any of his heirs were discovered to be taking drugs, then they would lose access to their inheritance.
That fortune was estimated to be worth somewhere between $50 and $110 million. So that’s a multi-million dollar reason to stay sober. Years before his death, Hefner reportedly paid $75,000 to purchase the crypt directly next to Marilyn Monroe at Westwood Village Memorial Park, as his other dying wish was to lay eternally next to Marilyn Monroe.
Marilyn Monroe: Left Her Belongings To An Acting Teacher and Nothing to Her Family
Marilyn Monroe was a cultural icon that, even decades after her death, is still remembered fondly by a majority of Americans. However, in addition to the scandals, which undoubtedly aided in her popularity, Monroe actually suffered from addiction throughout her life. She also butted heads with her family, which is why she made sure to leave them out of her will when she passed away. Instead, the cultural icon ended up leaving most of her possessions to her acting coach.
Her coach, named Lee Strasberg, ended up storing all of her possessions in his home until he passed away in 1982. By many accounts, their relationship was one of mutual respect, which makes sense that she would leave everything to him in her will. When he passed away, his wife at the time, who had never actually met Monroe, went on to license her image and make a fortune.
Alexander McQueen: A Final Gift For His Pampered Pups
Alexander McQueen was a Scottish fashion designer who founded one of the most successful fashion houses in the world. However, the designer was also beset with depression and sadly passed away by suicide in 2010. Throughout his life, he shunned the spotlight and led a life of privacy. When he passed, his will instructed that his fortune be given to his dogs. However, there was also another bizarre stipulation in his will.
The successful designer wished for his DNA to be incorporated into leather. So you might be wearing a piece of McQueen right now.
Robin Williams: His Children Will Only Gain Access to Their Inheritance 25 Years After Robin’s Passing
Robin Williams surprised the world when he passed away due to suicide in 2014. For years, the prolific comedian and actor had delighted audiences with his comedy and brought tears to their eyes in his dramas. It was estimated that he had made anywhere from $50 to $100 million throughout his career. However, he had very specific instructions left in his will for when he passed away.
The instructions stipulated that it would be 25 years before his children would get any of their inheritance money. However, it is not known why he left these instructions.
Anna Nicole Smith: A Will That Forgot Her Daughter and Left Everything to Her Dead Son
Anna Nicole Smith’s life was very out in the open, and the model was known for living life to the fullest and in a very public way. She was celebrated during the 1990s as America’s next Marilyn Monroe, and her career certainly followed a similar path. She quickly rose to fame and just as quickly fell, passing away in 2007. However, she did draw up a will before her untimely death. And in it, she had stipulated some odd requests.
In her will, she had left her possessions, worth around $474 million, to a son who passed away a year prior to her own death. Of course, this could have just come down to her not updating her will, but why leave everything to a single son in the first place?
Janis Joplin: A Final Party On Her Tab
Janis Joplin was apparently just as cool in death as she was in life. The 1960s singer struggled throughout life with partying and substance use. And she often spoke of this in her lyrics, making her an icon of her era. However, upon passing away, she wanted to make sure her death was not one of sadness and remorse. So, she set aside around $2,500 for one last hurrah for her friends and family.
She stipulated in her will that the money should be used to throw a party at one of her favorite pubs, called The Lions Share, where around 200 people gathered to celebrate her life.
Ashton Kutcher And Mila Kunis: No Trust Funds For Tiny Kutchers
While most of the celebrities on this list lead or have led pretty eccentric lives, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have had pretty everyday lives comparatively. The two came from pretty normal families as well and weren’t born into fame, which kind of explains what they plan on doing with their fortune once they pass away. Kutcher has said that they will probably give most of their money to charities in addition to supporting their children.
However, he also said that they would only invest in his children’s business ideas if he thought they had good ideas and saw that they were working hard towards their goals, which is pretty sensible.
Patrick Swayze: A Total Exclusion Of His Siblings
Patrick Swayze was a popular American movie star who passed away from cancer in 2009. The actor had starred in classics like Road House and Ghost. However, after he passed away, his family was in for a surprise. Swayze had apparently stated in his will that his entire fortune, estimated at some $40 million, would all go to his wife. Some family members, of course, took offense to this and tried to take action.
His brother alleged that the actor’s wife had faked documents in a ploy to get her husband’s entire fortune. He also asked for an investigation. However, nothing was ever proven.